X17 News

LOS ANGELES, California (X17online) - Malibu Mayor Pamela Conley Ulich will hold a press conference tonight at 6pm to address media requests for information regarding the City's activities related to public safety and the paparazzi.

This comes on the heels of two incidents this past weekend between the paparazzi and a group of surfers, in which the photographers were approached, verbally threatened and then attacked.

At least two photographers sustained minor injuries and various photographic equipment was damaged and destroyed. X17 photographers alone lost more than $15,000 in equipment.

CLICK HERE to see footage of the altercation which occurred on Saturday, June 21

CLICK HERE to see footage of the second assault which occurred on Sunday June 22

LOS ANGELES, California (X17online) - Skylar Peak, 24, and Philip Hildebrand, 30, have been charged with misdemeanor battery for allegedly throwing a photographer into the ocean after he tried to take pictures of actor Matthew McConaughey surfing on a Malibu beach, according to the Associated Press.

One of the photographers told police he was attacked and the men threw his camera into the water, and there were fights between numerous other photographers and local surfers. Though McConaughey was not involved in the altercation, it appears as though he is friends with some of the individuals involved. Shortly after the incident occurred, several Malibu natives sided with the photographers, and McConaughey had no comment on the assault.

Yesterday a spokesperson for the Los Angeles district attorney's office said prosecutors felt they had enough evidence to pursue the case, despite lack of cooperation from witnesses. Peak and Hildebrand will be arraigned in October.

CLICK HERE to see X17online's video of the altercation which occurred on Saturday, June 21

CLICK HERE to see X17online's video of the second assault which occurred on Sunday June 22

LOS ANGELES, California (X17online) - An X17 photographer following Britney Spears says he was beaten, choked and held hostage by security staff at the recently opened Montage Hotel in Beverly Hills on Wednesday night.

The photographer, who Spears knows and often calls or texts, walked in to the hotel's public underground garage without his camera when he says he was confronted by men who work for the hotel.

He was then escorted to a small room where the photographer claims he was punched in the ribs, thrown to the ground and told he was not allowed to leave.

"I was attacked by hotel security and kept in a little room for over an hour and my phone was taken away from me when I tried to dial 911," the photographer said.

"They beat me up and refused to call the paramedics, saying that I was okay. One hour later I heard that there was a cop outside and I screamed to him for help."

More police arrived and the photographer was allowed to leave the hotel. He was interviewed by Beverly Hills Police officers but was not arrested.

The photographer also says the hotel staff had taken the key to his SUV which was parked in the hotel's underground garage. He later discovered the SUV had been severely scratched.

CLICK HERE TO SEE PICTURES OF THE PHOTOGRAPHER'S DAMAGED SUV

The Beverly Hills Police Department says it is investigating the incident, but when contacted on Thursday morning, the watch commander on duty said he was not familiar with the incident.

The manager of the Montage Hotel would not comment on the alleged incident.

LOS ANGELES, California (X17online) - A photographer who says David Beckham's security team beat him up on a Beverly Hills street has filed a lawsuit against the soccer star.

X17online first published the story of the attack that occurred on December 7th.

Photographer Emicles Da Mata was following Beckham when Becks got out of his car at a red light and tried to reach into Da Mata's car and grab his camera equipment.

Then Beckham's security guards got involved. One of the security guys snatched the $8000 camera and threw it into a garbage can.

As Da Mata got out of his car to retrieve his equipment, he says he was violently attacked by the security team who threw him to the ground, punching and kicking him repeatedly.

"They put me in a headlock, and held my arms behind my back. Then they threw me to the ground," DaMata told X17online shortly after the alleged attack.

Beverly Hills Police were called to the scene and asked if he wanted to press charges against the bodyguards. Da Mata declined to file charges at the scene. An X17 photographer nearby offered the officers the video tape from his camera as evidence for their investigation.

To this date, no charges have been filed against the security guards and Beverly Hills Police have refused to comment on the investigation.

Just last week, an X17 reporter spotted the same Beckham security guards chatting with Beverly Hills Police officers at the same 76 Station where the incident occurred.

Despite numerous requests from the X17 photog who provided the tape, the police have also refused to return the video tape of the incident.

Da Mata's suit alleges assault and battery, negligence, negligent and intentional infliction of emotional distress and conversion. The suit seeks unspecified damages.

CLICK HERE TO SEE VIDEO AND PICTURES FROM THE SCENE!!